What Did You Do Before Life Got Serious?

A story on rediscovering joy and forgotten parts of ourselves, exploring how play, curiosity and reconnection can bring our whole selves to leadership

🛼 🛼 🛼 ...

Yes, really!

Back in high school, the roller rink was where we all hung out. Thursday evenings. Saturday afternoons. Sometimes another session squeezed in if we could persuade our parents.

For me, it wasn't just about skating.

It was close friendships.

My first proper crush.

Learning that falling over wasn't the end of the world (my baggy pastel trousers regularly bore the evidence).

It was one of the places where I was beginning to discover who I was beyond my family ‘system’.

It gave me confidence, freedom, a sense of belonging and, perhaps most importantly, a huge amount of joy.

A recent conversation with my lovely friend Naomi Dake took us both back there. We discovered we'd each loved roller skating as teens, she found a local rink and decided to see whether we still could.

Armed with knee pads (our bones are a little less forgiving these days) and very modest expectations, we stepped onto the rink.

And it was FAB-U-LOUS!

Within a few minutes I was smiling from ear to ear.

For a little while, achievement disappeared.

There was nowhere I needed to be and nothing to produce or deal with. I was simply trying not to fall over and enjoying moving around the rink to the music again.

It also reminded me that some parts of us never disappear. But they do get buried beneath responsibility, expectations and the pace of everyday life.

Beneath all the shoulds that I am trying hard to put down in favour of a few more coulds.

One of the things I often explore with leaders is how easy it is to become disconnected from the parts of ourselves that bring energy, curiosity and perspective.

Leading with wisdom isn't only about learning something new.

It's also about remembering parts of ourselves we've forgotten and welcoming them back to lead from our whole selves.

I'm curious... 🤔

What brought you absolute joy before life became quite so serious?

And how could you find your way back to it?

Get in touch if it's something you're excited to explore.

Thanks for making it happen Naomi Dake!